The Sun Destroys Collagen & Elastin

February 21st, 2011

Too much sun exposure or poor sun protection will shape the way your skin looks in the future. I hate to be negative, but every complaint I hear when I do facials tends to have one cause: the sun. Ironically, all of us love that golden glow the skin gets when its tanned.

The truth is, the sun damages the skin. It is probably the one thing that all the top skincare experts can agree on. In fact, it is what will cause your skin to age most rapidly.

Prevent Sun-Damaged Skin

Basking in the warm glow of the sun can make us feel good and in the short term make us look good. While sun damage doesn’t necessarily appear right away, it is destroying the very foundation of beautiful skin, collagen and elastin.

Younger people in their 20’s have a cell turnover of about 20 days. That’s why when you are younger, you feel like you can get away with anything. But for people in their 40’s and 50’s, cell turnover is twice as long.

The cumulative side effects of sun damage skin are wrinkles, age spots, loss of elasticity and a more serious concern, skin cancer. Sadly, sun damage can appear in the skin in as little as 12 weeks.

The more your skin is exposed to the sun, the more the collagen and elastin in the deeper layers are broken down, giving less support to the underlying muscles as well as the skin’s surface.

What does this mean for our daily routine? You need to wear sunscreen no matter what the weather. Doing this will limit GREATLY how your skin ages- by up to 80% during your lifetime.

The first goal is to provide moisture by using a water based serum or moisturizer, since the top and lower layers of your skin have become overly dry .

You need to drink plenty of water as most moisturizers will not penetrate into the deeper layers of the dermis. And taking supplements, like omega-3 fatty acids, that hydrate your skin and stimulate collagen production, is a must.

Other ingredients like vitamin C or Chlorophyll in your skincare products, known antioxidants, will help to nullify the free radicals, scavenger cells, that have been created due to over-exposure to the sun.

FOODS THAT BOOST YOUR RESISTANCE TO THE SUN:

Watermelon, Tomatoes, Pomegranates and Kiwi, a powerhouse full of vitamin C great for the skin.

Prevention, protection and maintenance are vital in maintaining healthy, youthful and flawless looking skin. In my opinion the first step is the most important part as it will then eliminate any damage that might occur to your skin.

As always, I look forward to seeing you at Joanna Vargas Skincare Sanctuary, home of the best facial in New York City. Make your appointments NOW at 212/949.2350.